The Legend of Safehaven Read Free Page B

Commonwealth of Virginia, and it would become part of the preserve.
    Cathy would like that , he mused, and the wind blowing through the open car window seemed to whisper, “ Yes, Tony.”
     
    The water-hose-improvised shower at the gas station sufficiently deodorized Freddie to allow the rest of the passengers to breathe through their noses again.
    As they drove away, Galen noticed that Edison was exhibiting signs of post-traumatic anxiety letdown, which he had seen so often in new parents.
    Nancy also seemed a little disconcerted, sitting in the back with the three kids, who by now were sufficiently sugar-loaded that they bounced between buzz and somnolence.
    “Why don’t we salvage the day, Edison,” Galen said softly. “I know a campground and portage site along the river not too far from here. We brought the kids’ swimsuits, and you and Nancy could do a bit of canoeing—just like in the old days, eh?”
    He nudged his friend gently, and Edison laughed.
    “What about you? You can’t just sit in the car and pretend you’re Buddha.”
    “No problem,” Galen replied. “There’s a bunch of trails along the Shenandoah. I’ll commune with nature while the rest of you get wet.”
    Twenty minutes later they pulled into the campground.
    “Bob, why don’t you and Galen go rent the canoe?” Nancy said, as she guided Carmelita, Freddie, and Tonio toward the bathhouse.
    The two men headed to the rental desk, and Edison picked out what he called a “nice shell.” When Galen paid for the rental, Edison seemed surprised by the gesture.
    “Hey, this was my idea,” Galen quipped.
    They turned back toward the bathhouse and saw Nancy emerging with only two of the children in swimsuits. Tonio stood apart, still in his day clothes, looking pouty.
    “He doesn’t want to go in the canoe,” Nancy said in exasperation.
    Galen walked over to the boy.
    “What’s wrong, Tonio?”
    He lowered his eyes then looked up at Galen.
    “ No tengo gusto del agua .”
    Galen’s Spanish was minimal, but he understood.
    Strange, he understands and speaks English fluently now but reverts to his early childhood tongue when upset.
    “That’s okay, Tonio. You can walk with me through the woods instead.”
    He turned to Edison, who had been watching the exchange.
    “Why don’t you and Nancy show the kids some of your old-style canoeing? I’ll rent a second shell. Nancy and Carmelita can go in one, and you and Freddie can take the other. You could make it a race between the guys and the gals.”
    Edison opened his mouth, but before he could speak Galen had taken out his wallet and turned toward the desk, where he rented another canoe. When he rejoined his friend, he said with a feinted grumble: “This better not lead to any canoodling later on, you old goat!”
    Edison grinned and winked.
    Galen turned to Nancy and the children.
    “Tonio and I will follow the trail along the river up to the bend that looks over the abandoned Civil War railroad crossing. We’ll act as judges to see which team gets there first. Okay?”
    The quartet nodded.
    Galen and Tonio headed for the trail, while Nancy and Edison slid the canoes to the edge of the river. They made sure Carmelita and Freddie’s life jackets were secured, helped the children into their respective shells, and then carefully climbed aboard.
    “Nancy, let’s use that large Jackson Oak tree on the bank as the starting point. Freddie, I want you to watch how I hold the paddle and how I bring it down into the water to get the most force behind it. Carmelita, watch how your tia does the paddling. After a while, we’ll let you join in.”
     
    Whatever trepidation the children might have felt about being on the water quickly dissipated. This was a calm, shallow stream, not a vast, raging ocean, and the pleasantness of the day captivated them all.
    Memory inevitably slipped Edison and Nancy back to the first day they met—only now they sat in separate canoes. Under their controlled